Des Moines Oncologist, Community Leader Named ACS CAN Board Chair

DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 12, 2018) —Dr. Richard L. Deming of Des Moines has been named board chair for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Dr. Deming is a longtime volunteer of ACS CAN as well as a respected oncologist and community leader. His term as ACS CAN board chair started in January.

Dr. Deming has volunteered with ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society since 1993 and has previously served in many local, state and national leadership positions.  He has been a member of the Board of Directors for ACS CAN since 2011.   He has participated in ACS CAN’s Leadership Summit and Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., for over a decade, meeting with lawmakers to advocate for legislation to reduce the burden of cancer through improved prevention and treatment.

“As a leader in his community and longtime champion in the fight against cancer, Dr. Deming is unparalleled in his dedication to ACS CAN’s mission of reducing death and suffering from this disease through public policy,” said Chris Hansen, president of ACS CAN. “We are grateful that Dr. Deming is lending his time and influence in this national role as board chair and we look forward to his volunteer leadership in the coming years.”

Dr. Deming is the medical director of Mercy Cancer Center – Des Moines. He is also the founder and chairman of Above + Beyond Cancer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating the lives of those touched by cancer. Dr. Deming is known in the community for the compassionate care he provides cancer patients and their families.  He was awarded the Lane Adams Award by the American Cancer Society for excellence and compassion in patient care. He is the recipient of the Iowa Cancer Champion Award for his tireless efforts in the field of advocacy.  He was awarded Iowa Star Award from the Des Moines Register for making a measurable difference to improve the quality of life for families and for the most vulnerable.  He is inspired by the courage and compassion of his patients.

“As a cancer physician I have the honor and privilege of helping to reduce the burden of cancer one patient at a time.  As an advocate in the public policy arena, I have the opportunity to help reduce the burden of cancer for everyone everywhere by pressing for policies and legislation that will favorably impact all Americans,” said Dr. Deming. “Prevention of cancer, access to healthcare, funding for research, smoke-free workplaces – these are all issues addressed in the halls of Congress, state capitols and city councils across the nation that affect the way people will experience cancer in the future. I’m proud to lead the board for an organization making a positive difference for my patients and our country.”

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.  ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.